Introduction

Power is related to current and voltage, but when you plug things into a power strip, they get 120 Volts. In this case, the only difference between a high-powered appliance and a low-powered device is the amount of current.

Activity

In this activity, we will outfit a room with your ultimate entertainment system. Find at least six electrical devices, and their power rating, through an online search. Make a chart showing the devices you chose, their maximum power consumption (in Watts) and their maximum current (in Amps).

Once you have all of your data, you can compare your current demand with normal household wiring standards; would your power strip trip a 5-amp, 10-amp, 15-amp, or 20-amp circuit breaker?

If your power strip was plugged into a 5-amp circuit, which appliances could you operate at the same time? Imagine you had to leave instructions for guests, to help them avoid tripping the circuit breaker. What would you tell them?